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The 5 at 5 5 minutes, 5 stories, 5 o’clock…

EVERY WEEKDAY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you five things you need to know before you head out the door…

1. #ECONOMY: The Irish economy shrank again in the three months from July to September – by 1.9 per cent – making us the worst-performing economy in the EU.

2. #DONEGAL: A large oil tanker has developed cracks in its hull and is requesting help from Irish authorities as it languishes off the coast of Donegal.

3. #DECORUM: Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett has revealed today that members of the public have made thousands of complaints this year over the conduct of TDs in the Dáil chamber. These could cover areas such as dress code, interruptions, attendance and heckling.

4. #DRUGS: Five men tried to smuggle cannabis through Dublin Airport yesterday by swallowing pellets of the drug. Between them, they swallowed 5kgs of cannabis pellets.

5. #VIDEO GAMES: Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell O’Connor is not happy that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has set a new sales record – she has criticised “violent video games” and asked parents to buy books for their children instead.

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    Mute Paul Maguire
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    Dec 16th 2011, 5:05 PM

    Wahey – glad to see we now have our our Irish version of the UK’s prime Anti-video game eejit, Keith Vaz. Now about to peddle their crazy antiquated views to the masses. I wonder if she goes to Mass of a Sunday, a more worrying and sinister evil pastime which has caused considerably more grief than video gaming ever will.

    http://magslife.com/2011/12/16/festive-facebook-fool-christmas-edition-2/

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    Mute Collette O' Connor
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    Dec 16th 2011, 5:42 PM

    I agree with the point Mary Mitchell O’ Connor made. I believe that it’s not good for young children to be spending so much of their time playing violent computer games. Most Adults can keep in touch with reality while playing these games, but children need guidance and boundaries to do so.
    There’s no better gift for children than books, a love of reading is a gift for life.
    Why would you want to expose children to so much violence? There are other games that are age appropriate and educational that children can enjoy, they don’t need the violent ones. Obviously this is a matter of opinion, as lots of parents allow their children play violent games.

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    Mute Sean O Luanaigh
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    Dec 16th 2011, 6:55 PM

    sommmmebodyyy isnt very goood at COD…!!

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    Mute Shanti Om
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    Dec 16th 2011, 10:11 PM

    Yes, but violent video games are rated PEGI 18, meaning that like violent movies, pornography and alcohol, CHILDREN should not have any access to them.

    I think, if this TD had done her homework, she may have realised that the true issue with children being exposed to violent materials is in fact poor parenting. As their parents should ensure that they do not get their hands on materials intended for ADULTS.

    As for it increasing violence, if you have managed to get to the grand old age of 18 without realising that a) video games and movies are NOT real life and b) that violence against another is wrong, then you are either a psychopath or your parents did a very poor job of raising you.

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    Mute Triona Murphy
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    Dec 16th 2011, 5:31 PM

    books like The Rules of the Road or a map of Dail Eireanns car park perhaps!!…:-)

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    Mute Rossa O Connor
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    Dec 16th 2011, 5:51 PM

    well all “video games” as ye refer to them come with an age rating. In the case of Modern warfare 3 it happens to be 18. Clearly warning of the game content, the game even comes with the option of dumbing down the graphic violence in the game. Responsibility clearly lies with the parents to ensure their children are playing age appropriate games, but as its Ireland “tis only a video game” attitude. No body has a clue in this country how to moderate their kids online. I would also expect a gombeen statement like this from somebody who shows they are completely out out of touch and unable to grasp the basics of online activity to try and revert the next generation back to books as being the only option to combat this problem. No wonder Ireland’s sinking!

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    Mute Triona Murphy
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    Dec 16th 2011, 6:28 PM

    agree with rossa. would you let your child watch an 18s movie? then why on why let them play an18s game.And my kids eat books and play games..you can do both…!!

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    Mute Collette O' Connor
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    Dec 16th 2011, 5:58 PM

    I’m as angry as the next person for what has been done to our country, and how the most vulnerable are being made to suffer the most. My view however, remains the same, too much exposure to violent games is unhealthy for young children. The Government are not how they are because they read books. Unfortunately, it’s power that corrupts, not books. They’re all great in opposition, it’s just when they get the power, we see them for real.

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    Mute Joanna McElligott
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    Dec 16th 2011, 6:52 PM

    i.ve not made myself clear, books don.t maketh the man an neither do video games, life lessons make this generation how they are today. The children of this generation are older than their years, so u will find young children playing an watching stuff that is inappropriate for them. They know a lot more than what i knew at a young age, thats not down to video games, thats due to evolution. Books are good, but do they leave a lasting impression on a teenager, is it something they will talk about with their mates? Guaranteed NOT. Video games, books, music, www, all these things can be influential in a good way.

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    Mute Shanti Om
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    Dec 16th 2011, 10:27 PM

    Exactly, there’s plenty of volumes of mindless twaddle available in bookshops just as there is in gaming.

    A good game will spark the imagination, initiate problem solving skills, some multiplayer games encourage team involvement, some games are educational all by themselves (Call Of Duty 1-3 & World At War includes a lot of education about WW2) they encourage the player to take a more pro active, social role (I saw a really interesting TED talk on this once, wish I could remember who it was). Some, like the Kinect, encourage physical activity & fitness.
    Sadly it’s all done indoors, but there are many pros to games that those who do not play them tend to be oblivious to.

    A book can broaden the mind, if it provokes thought, enlightens, or teaches, but it isn’t the most sociable hobby, and there are some woeful pieces of drivel on sale which could hardly be considered literary classics.. There are some books more violent than any game in existence.

    It’s just evolution. There has always been some scapegoat “corrupting our youth”, but in reality if we look at who we have been “led” by throughout recorded history the true cause is quite clear.

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    Mute Joanna McElligott
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    Dec 16th 2011, 5:42 PM

    oh yes, read books and you’ll end up having another bunch of muppets running this country. The ones that are there now read books!! Not saying that gaming is the way to go, but it’s a bit rich isn’t it. I think the hildren of his country will learn by what they are gonna have to live for the next god knows how long:-/

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    Mute Jolly Smoker
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    Dec 17th 2011, 12:08 AM

    Tell Mary it’s not the kids that have COD at the top of sales it’s the thousands of unemployed people with nothing else to do. She should worry more about her party is steering us to ruin.

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